Smokers not very receptive to shocking images
Researchers found that smokers' amygdala activity decreases after abstinence, reducing their fear response to scary images. This could be due to nicotine's role in maintaining normal function.
Amygdala
Articles tagged with Amygdala
Fear boosts activation of young, immature brain cells
New research by UC Berkeley scientists reveals that fear and emotional experiences lead to stronger memories through the activation of newborn neurons in the hippocampus. The amygdala induces the generation of new neurons, which provide a 'blank slate' for imprinting fearful memories.
Sense of justice built into the brain
The study reveals that the brain's amygdala plays a key role in triggering an automatic reaction to unfairness, even when rational thinking suggests otherwise. The findings have significant implications for our understanding of human behavior and decision-making processes.
Amygdala detects spontaneity in human behavior
Researchers found that the amygdala is active when listening to improvised melodies and sensitive to fluctuations in loudness and timing. A network of areas also shows increased activity when detecting spontaneous behavior.
Chimp, bonobo study sheds light on the social brain
The research shows that bonobos have more developed circuitry for key nodes within the limbic system, which may be responsible for their social tolerance. In contrast, chimpanzees have better-developed visual system pathways, possibly linked to their tool-use skills.
Getting a grasp on memory
A team of researchers found that half of all learned insights are consolidated in our memories, and the amygdala plays a crucial role in this process. The study used camouflage images to induce sudden insight, and participants' ability to identify the images was predicted by amygdala activity.
New insight into 'aha' memories
Researchers found that half of learned insights are consolidated in memories within a week, while others fade over time. The amygdala, associated with emotion, is activated during insight moments and predicts ability to recall degraded images.
A-ha! The neural mechanisms of insight
A new brain-imaging study has identified specific brain activity associated with 'A-ha!' moments, which may promote the formation of long-term memories. The researchers found that higher activity in the amygdala during insight moments predicted more successful performance in memory tasks.
In adolescence, the power to resist blooms in the brain
Research using fMRI scans found that brain activity in areas responsible for emotional regulation increased significantly between ages 10 and 13, allowing children to better resist peer influence. This study provides insight into the brain's wiring during adolescence and may lay the foundation for future studies with clinical relevance.
Stanford scientists discover anti-anxiety circuit in brain region considered the seat of fear
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered a novel brain circuit that produces the opposite effect of anxiety, counteracting it instead. The discovery was made using optogenetics technology and found that stimulating this circuit enhances animals' willingness to take risks.
Researchers selectively control anxiety pathways in the brain
A new study uses optogenetics to precisely identify neural circuits responsible for anxiety, identifying two key pathways in the amygdala region that promote or alleviate anxiety. This breakthrough brings psychiatric professionals closer to understanding anxiety disorders.
Neural mechanisms linked with vulnerability to anxiety
A study published in Neuron reveals that individual differences in amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex function are independently associated with anxiety vulnerability. High trait anxiety individuals show enhanced amygdala response and faster fear acquisition, while vmPFC recruitment is linked to reduced fear responses in fear-...
Structure deep within the brain may contribute to a rich, varied social life
A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience found that the amygdala's volume is positively correlated with social network size and complexity in adult humans. This link was observed across age groups and genders, suggesting a possible role for the amygdala in regulating human social behavior.
When the brain knows no fear
A new study on a woman without an amygdala, a key structure in generating fear reactions, reveals that humans also lack this function. Despite encountering traumatic events, she experiences little to no fear, while still feeling other emotions like happiness and sadness.
Fear discovery could lead to new interventions for PTSD
A study published in Current Biology pinpointed the amygdala as the brain region causing fear. The researchers observed a patient without an amygdala, who failed to experience fear despite encountering traumatic events. This discovery may lead to new interventions for PTSD and anxiety disorders.
Neuroscience of instinct: How animals overcome fear to obtain food
In a study, rats weigh their odds of safely retrieving food pellets near a predator to make instinctive safety decisions. Rats with impaired amygdala activity were more cautious and risk-averse when faced with danger, while those with overactive amygdala showed greater fear and avoidance behaviors.
Circuitry of fear identified
Neurobiologists have identified specific types of neurons in the amygdala that process fear inputs and regulate subsequent fear responses. These circuits play a key role in the generalization of fear, allowing it to become divorced from its original situation, and may provide new targets for treating phobias and anxiety disorders.
Caltech scientists describe the delicate balance in the brain that controls fear
Scientists at Caltech have identified a delicate balance in the brain that controls fear output from the amygdala. Two neural subtypes act like a seesaw to regulate fear levels, with PKCδ+ neurons forming one end and inhibiting outflow from the region.
Freeze or run? Not that simple
Researchers at EMBL identified specific type of neurons involved in mouse fear response, revealing complex brain circuitry. They used fMRI and genetic approaches to control neurons' activity, showing that fear can trigger active coping strategies instead of freezing.
When memory-related region of brain is damaged, other areas compensate, study finds
Researchers at UCLA found that when one brain region is damaged, another region can take over its function. The study suggests that the brain has a mechanism to adapt and compensate, potentially leading to new treatments for patients with memory impairments.
Fish facing reflections become feisty but fearful
Researchers found that male African cichlid fish exhibit a fear response when fighting their own reflections, characterized by increased activity in the amygdala region of the brain. This discovery suggests that fish may have more complex cognitive abilities than previously thought.
Neuroscientists show how brain stores memories of specific fears
Researchers found that the amygdala distinguishes between different fear memories and retrieves them selectively. The study suggests a more sophisticated storage and recall capacity than previously thought, with implications for addressing specific fear memories.
Patients 'unafraid' to gamble highlight role of amygdala in decision-making
Researchers studied patients with amygdala lesions to understand how decisions are made and what influences risk-taking behavior. The results show that a fully functioning amygdala makes people more cautious, while impaired amygdala activity leads to reduced loss aversion and increased willingness to gamble.
Caltech neuroscientists discover brain area responsible for fear of losing money
Researchers found that the amygdala structure in the brain is critical for triggering caution when making gambles with potential losses. This study provides new evidence for the role of the amygdala in fear and anxiety, shedding light on economic behavior and emotional decision-making.
Study sheds light on brain's fear processing center
A new study by University of Iowa researchers shows that breathing carbon dioxide can trigger panic attacks by increasing brain acidity, which activates a brain protein involved in fear and anxiety behavior. The study suggests new approaches for treating panic and anxiety disorders by targeting the brain protein ASIC1a.
Are teenagers wired differently than adults?
Researchers studied amygdala development, finding that neural pathways bypassing cortex are more plastic in juvenile than adult mice. This suggests that teenagers' emotions are less precise and more irrational due to subcortical drive.
2 brain structures key to emotional balance especially in threatening situations
Researchers found that two brain structures, the deep layers of superior colliculus and amygdala, interact to regulate emotional responses. Activation of one structure can lead to defensive behaviors, while inhibition of the other reveals a complex interaction between the two.
Rats move toward the food but do not eat
Researchers at University of Missouri discovered that deactivating basolateral amygdala blocks consumption of fatty diet in rats, but not the desire to seek food repeatedly. The study suggests that this brain region is specifically involved in pleasure-driven overeating.
Caltech neuroscientists find brain region responsible for our sense of personal space
Researchers identified the amygdala as the brain structure responsible for our sense of personal space. The discovery sheds light on the neural mechanisms involved in social behavior and offers new perspectives on autism and other disorders where social distance is an issue.
Excessive drinking can damage brain regions used for processing facial emotions
A recent study found that excessive drinking can lead to reduced activity in the amygdala and hippocampus, two brain regions responsible for processing facial emotions. This can result in emotional difficulties, such as misperceiving facial cues, emotional flatness, and apathy, which can negatively impact interpersonal relationships.
Genetic make-up influences biased economic decision-making, study shows
A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience reveals that a person's susceptibility to biased economic decision-making is influenced by their genetic make-up. The research found that variation in the serotonin transporter gene affects how individuals respond to framing effects, with those carrying the 'short' variant being more...
Imaging study finds evidence of brain abnormalities in toddlers with autism
A magnetic resonance imaging study found that toddlers with autism tend to have an enlarged amygdala, a brain area associated with processing faces and emotion. This brain abnormality is also linked to improved joint attention ability in children with autism.
Heightened level of amygdala activity may cause social deficits in autism
Increased amygdala activity may cause social deficits in autism by leading to reduced neural habituation and impaired learning of social cues. This hyperarousal affects the ability to pick up subtle social cues, contributing to difficulties with complex social interactions.
Tiny brain region better part of valor
A new study reveals that a tiny part of the brain's hypothalamus is key to animals' fear responses, contradicting long-held assumptions about the amygdala. The research found that neutralizing this region eliminates fear in rodents, who instead exhibit bold and aggressive behavior towards predators.
Expectant brains help predict anxiety treatment success
High levels of amygdala activity predict hypersensitivity to anticipation, while anterior cingulate cortex activity predicts response to antidepressant medication. These findings have important implications for treating anxiety disorders and may lead to personalized treatment approaches.
Stress hinders rats' decision-making abilities
Neuroscientists from the University of Washington found that stress impairs rats' ability to seek out larger rewards in a maze, lasting several days. A study using rats and muscimol to inactivate the amygdala showed that stressed rats were unable to adjust their behavior and learn from experience.
MRI reveals relationship between depression and pain
The study found that individuals with depression exhibit increased activation in the right amygdala during painful stimulation, while displaying decreased activation in areas responsible for pain modulation. This suggests a relationship between depression and pain perception, with potential implications for treatment outcomes.
Context and personality key in understanding responses to emotional facial expressions
A new study suggests that the social context of a person's facial expression and individual attachment style can affect how our brains interpret its social meaning. The study found that happy faces activated reward centers in the brain, but this response was weaker in participants with an avoidant attachment style.
Rutgers research identifies brain cells related to fear
Researchers at Rutgers University have identified a key component of the amygdala's neural network involved in extinction, or elimination, of fear memories. Clusters of intercalated neurons inhibit amygdala outputs to brain stem structures generating fear responses, offering potential for pharmacological interventions.
Once a shy monkey, always a shy monkey?
A new study by the HealthEmotions Research Institute found that anxious brains consistently respond more strongly to stress and show signs of anxiety even in safe situations. Anxious monkeys showed higher brain activity in the amygdala, a part of the brain that regulates emotion, which corresponded to higher levels of stress hormones.
Long-term cannabis users may have structural brain abnormalities
Research found that long-term cannabis users may have structural brain abnormalities, with the hippocampus and amygdala being affected. The study suggests heavy daily use of cannabis might be toxic to human brain tissue, highlighting the need for further research.
Brain chemistry ties anxiety and alcoholism
A study at the University of Illinois Chicago found a key molecular event in the brain that links anxiety with alcohol addiction. The researchers discovered a protein called Arc that is produced in response to alcohol exposure, which helps reduce anxiety-like symptoms. Restoring levels of this protein may help alleviate withdrawal-indu...
Overweight people may not know when they've had enough
A brain-imaging study found that overweight people's brains respond differently to feelings of fullness, with reduced activation in areas signaling satiety. Treatments targeting these circuits may help control chronic overeating, according to the authors.
Mental illness and drug addiction may co-occur due to disturbance in part of the brain
A study by Andrew Chambers found that rats with damaged amygdalas showed abnormal behavior related to fear and fearlessness, as well as greater cocaine sensitivity. This suggests that brain conditions may alter addiction vulnerability independently of drug history.
Study provides first evidence of neural link between sleep loss and psychiatric disorders
A study found that sleep deprivation excessively boosts the part of the brain connected to depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders. The amygdala becomes hyperactive in response to negative visual stimuli, shutting down the prefrontal cortex and preventing the release of chemicals needed for calmness.
Humans perceive others' fear faster than other emotions
Researchers at Vanderbilt University discovered that humans become aware of fearful faces more quickly than neutral or happy faces. The brain's amygdala area is believed to be responsible for this rapid detection, with the eyes of a fearful face playing a key role.
How the brain handles surprise, good and bad
Researchers distinguish brain circuitry for surprise and aversive stimuli, finding different neuronal populations respond to expectation of reward or punishment. This study sheds light on the amygdala's role in emotion, reinforcement learning, attention, and arousal.
Clinical depression linked to abnormal emotional brain circuits
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that people with clinical depression have abnormal brain activity in emotional control circuits. Consciously regulating emotions increased activity in prefrontal cortical areas, but didn't quell negative responses in depressed individuals.
Putting feelings into words produces therapeutic effects in the brain
Researchers found that verbalizing emotions reduces brain activity in the amygdala, a region associated with emotional responses. This decrease in activity is linked to increased activity in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, which processes emotions and inhibits behavior.
Research shows men and women look at sexual photographs differently
Researchers found men are more likely than women to first look at a woman's face in sexual photos, while women focus longer on male-performed acts. Hormonal states also influence attention, with women using contraceptives looking more at genitals.
NYU study shows those closer to World Trade Center have more vivid memories when recalling 9/11
Researchers at NYU found that individuals closer to the World Trade Center on 9/11 recalled events with greater vividness and confidence. The study suggests that proximity to the site enhanced personal involvement, which in turn activated neural mechanisms involved in emotional modulation of memory.
Involvement of the amygdala in systemic lupus erythematosus
Research shows that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have anti-NMDA receptor antibodies may experience amygdala damage, leading to altered emotional responses. The study suggests a link between the immune system and brain function in SLE.
Brain's fear center likely shrinks in autism's most severely socially impaired
In the most severely socially impaired males with autism spectrum disorders, researchers found a smaller-than-normal amygdala, an almond-shaped danger-detector deep in the brain. The study suggests that social fear triggers hyperactivity in the amygdala, which eventually leads to toxic adaptation and cell death.
Serotonin receptor: A rheostat in brain for emotion that may be linked to depression
Researchers found that a specific serotonin receptor regulates brain emotional responses, potentially contributing to depression risk. The study suggests antidepressants may work by shifting this receptor's availability, modulating amygdala reactivity and improving depressed mood.
How the brain keeps emotions at bay
A study published in Neuron found that the brain has a specific 'executive processing' area that inhibits emotional activity, enabling people to cope with distractions. Researchers also discovered that individuals with PTSD and depression have impaired amygdalar inhibition, leading to emotional intrusion.
Emotional control circuit of brain's fear response discovered
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center discovered an emotional control circuit that regulates fear responses in the brain. The study found that the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, a region of the frontal lobe, activates to resolve emotional conflicts and dampens activity in the amygdala, allowing for emotional cont...
Anticipation plays a powerful role in human memory, brain study finds
Researchers found that anticipation can fire up two brain regions - amygdala and hippocampus - even before the event occurs, strengthening memories of disturbing events. This study has important implications for treating conditions like PTSD and social anxiety.
Brain chemical plays critical role in drinking and anxiety
A brain protein called BDNF plays a critical role in regulating anxiety and alcohol consumption in rats. Lower levels of BDNF in specific areas of the brain increased anxiety and drinking behavior, while restoring normal BDNF levels diminished these effects.
UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute researchers find fewer neurons in the amygdala of males with autism
Researchers from the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute have found significantly fewer neurons in the amygdala of males with autism, a key brain region responsible for emotional responses and social learning. The study provides new insights into the neuroanatomical basis of autism, which may help advance research into this lifelong neurodevel...
Fear circuit flares as bipolar youth misread faces
Youth with bipolar disorder show increased brain activity when rating hostile faces, indicating difficulty processing emotional cues. This finding may help refine diagnosis and understanding of the underlying brain mechanisms.